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Post by Deleted on Aug 7, 2009 23:16:46 GMT
Hey does anyone know of a good basic sword belt, whether for a European sword or a katana?
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SlayerofDarkness
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Post by SlayerofDarkness on Aug 7, 2009 23:21:58 GMT
Um, aciesnova? Katana don't HAVE sword belts. That's a purely european thing. ;D However, as for where to find a good one, check out www.ChristianFletcher.com His sword belts are some of the best out there, and very reasonably priced, too. Man I want one of those Ranger Belts... -Slayer
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Post by Deleted on Aug 7, 2009 23:37:43 GMT
Got a link to the ranger belt, Slayer? I can't seem to find it anymore
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Post by Deleted on Aug 7, 2009 23:50:47 GMT
Um, aciesnova? Katana don't HAVE sword belts. That's a purely european thing. ;D Uh, Slayer, while you're technically correct, you're being misleading at the same time. "Katana" don't have belts, but according to most experts the exact same blade worn in a style with a belt edge-down is a tachi. And regardless of whether we want to point out the subtle but frequent differences between dimensions and blades from the era when the "katana" was more common or the "tachi," the bottom line is that through most of Japanese history the Japanese blade indeed was worn with a belt. I just get a bee in my bonnet about the stereotypical, predominantly Edo period elements of Japanese culture being the monolithic popular image in the West. It's as flawed as portraying European knights only in full plate armor with barded horses, the majority of colonial Americans as riflemen, or most cowboys being revolver duelists.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2009 0:26:01 GMT
Please, pardon my ignorance. The fact is, I'm getting a katana but am not sure how to wear it. Does a simple suspension style belt work, or something else? By the way, on the Christian Fletcher Website I could only find swords and sheaths so where are the belts?
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Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2009 0:39:55 GMT
A little research ever hurts, even at the local library books with japanese art, alot of Japanese art I've seen with armoured samurai they have a tachi suspension edge down rather then the sash n sago with edge up. Another example of the versatility of the culture. But the euro's were the same. Sometimes a scabbard was just thrust through the belt, or a vertical hanging baldric, or vertical off a belt, all manner. They did all manner and plenty of surviving artwork to back it up off tapastries, reliefs etc etc etc etc etc. Sometimes I dare say the wealth of variety is the euro's, likely cause of all their access to more resources then the japanese. Brian at dbkcustoms has dont some the best I've seen as well as the demi-god himself Mr Christian Fletcher. If you got the time though, find a leather store, get some advice and DIY. Although for a cheap basic kultofathena.com in their belts/scabbards/accessories section has stuff
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Post by randomnobody on Aug 8, 2009 1:13:59 GMT
Silly me, I just stuff my katana through my belt.
Traditionally speaking, though, yes, tachi had their own suspension rig. Later on, whatever you choose to call the sword type commonly referred to as a "katana" would be thrust through the obi, typically, tied in with the sageo. There are as many variations on its carry as there are schools of swordsmanship.
Just use whatever works for you, and the only way to find that is to try it out.
You may also be able to find an old, WW2-era Japanese officer's sword frog or suspension system; perhaps a police version, too. Those could be fun, if nothing else.
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Avery
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Post by Avery on Aug 8, 2009 3:07:28 GMT
Ok, all traditional ways aside, heres a link to a Euro baldric. Pretty versatile. I have one similar and it'll hold just about any scabbard. And if I recall correctly, not that this matters, I remember in the Highlander series Duncan using a similar baldric in one of his flashbacks. His katana looked pretty cool in it too. www.by-the-sword.com/acatalog/European_Baldric_Right_Black_200292.html
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Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2009 3:12:21 GMT
Slayer: you are incorrect, a katana belt is called an obi and they work extremely well if you know how to tie them properly.
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SlayerofDarkness
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Post by SlayerofDarkness on Aug 8, 2009 3:13:05 GMT
My bad, I forgot about the tachi. Yeah, I'm no expert. Sorry for speaking a tad bit too quickly there. Apparantly CF has switched up his site a bit... I'll email him and see if he still does belts or if he's stopped for some reason. But MAN they are/were nice, and only about $100. (I know, 'only' is a reletive term. But for what he does, I consider that dirt cheap.) And lemal, while the blades of tachi and katana are extremly similar, it is my understanding that the fittings were entirely different. So, yeah, it's an either/or type of thing. ;D Thanks for the correction, though! -Slayer
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Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2009 3:17:23 GMT
And--IIRC--the maker's signature usually is on opposite sides of the tang for each type.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2009 3:21:47 GMT
Slayer: again you are incorrect, sometimes katana had the same types of fittings without the hanger assembly (aishi) this was called handachi mounting. The difference between katana and tachi is that often the tachi is longer and it is worn blade down, also it is designed for use from horseback. The katana is designed for combat on foot and dueling. The blades aren't really extremely similar either, because there are so many different geometry for katana
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SlayerofDarkness
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Post by SlayerofDarkness on Aug 8, 2009 3:23:29 GMT
And--IIRC--the maker's signature usually is on opposite sides of the tang for each type. Huh... Cool to know, thanks for a little tidbit of knowledge. +1 for correcting me and being nice about it and for the cool little piece of info about the maker's mark. -Slayer
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SlayerofDarkness
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Post by SlayerofDarkness on Aug 8, 2009 3:27:58 GMT
Slayer: again you are incorrect, sometimes katana had the same types of fittings without the hanger assembly (aishi) this was called handachi mounting. The difference between katana and tachi is that often the tachi is longer and it is worn blade down, also it is designed for use from horseback. The katana is designed for combat on foot and dueling. The blades aren't really extremely similar either, because there are so many different geometry for katana Okay, okay... I get it. I don't know anything. ;D Thanks for the info though. I appreciate the explainations rather than just being told I'm wrong. +1 to you when I recharge. Just a quick question though; how long are tachi generally? I don't really know why I'm asking, I guess I'm just curious. I always thought that tachi and katana were basically the same blade, except for mountings. Oh, and I also heard once that tachi had more sori, but I don't know if that's correct. Thanks again, Slayer
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Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2009 7:18:25 GMT
If you could give me a heads up when you email Mr Fletcher I'd be greatly obliged to ya, Slayer. I'll have a karma standing by even if he isn't making them anymore.
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Post by randomnobody on Aug 8, 2009 13:19:10 GMT
Once upon a time tachi got up to 35" or so, and while it may not be entirely accurate to say "tachi had greater sori than katana" generally speaking, they had a tendency. As has been said, they were cavalry swords, and enjoyed their popularity before the katana. Once battlefield tactics shifted away from cavalry and toward the guys on foot, the tachi fell slowly out of favor save as a court accessory.
Many were shortened "into" katana, though, especially once one-or-another daimyo/emperor (it was one or the other and I can't remember which) started regulating the length of swords people could wear.
I wasn't aware CF stopped making belts, and would appreciate info, too.
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SlayerofDarkness
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Post by SlayerofDarkness on Aug 8, 2009 16:21:30 GMT
Sure thing, guys. I'll let you know what his response is.
-Slayer
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Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2009 22:27:17 GMT
At the risk of getting shot at Aciesnova did say he was getting a katana and wanted to know how to wear it. Tachi mounts are a bit of a rareity, most production katana come in a simple saya and are worn cutting edge up thrust through the obi (sash) and generally sit high on the waist lying almost horizontal. The tach has a pair of hangers on the saya linked together with cord (heavy woven silk usually). the cord is then used to tie the saya onto a belt alowing the sword to hang cutting edge down in a similar way to a wester cavalry sabre. Be careful if just thrustig the saya through a western style belt as you can scratch up the saya pretty easily.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 9, 2009 3:39:31 GMT
Least it's a katana. They had belts, whether it's a suspension rig as a "tachi" or an obi as an edo period "katana" or whatever, they were carried at the waist, leaving the hands free.
All the info I have found is that the frikkin Wu Jian was carried in the hand. It may not weigh much, but walking around Pennsic all day with a Jian in hand gets tiring. And that's not even going into just how awkward it can be.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 9, 2009 3:48:08 GMT
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